The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 278, 25 November 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1870.

At the risk of wearying our readers -we return once more to a subject with, regard to which they display a strange amount of apathy, although to the majority of them it is a matter of considerable importance, inasmuch as it affects their pockets to a large extent. We refer to the matter of insurance premiums, and it is from reading the circumstances attending the disastrous fire which lately swept the town, of Lyttelton that we are led to touch upon the subject again. We are given to understand that the rates of insurance in Nelson are much the same as those hitherto charged in Lyttelton, and it will be well to contrast the provisions against fire that exist in the two towns. We are told that although the fire that has recently created such devastation in the

latter town commenced at an hour (9.30) when few persons had retired to rest, nothing like effective resistance was offered to its progress until some three and a half hours later when the Christchurch engine and fire brigade made their appearance on the scene. The local fire engine, it seems, had been neglected so long as to have become absolutely unserviceable; and even the hook and ladder division of the brigade was comparatively useless from want of practice. Thus we find that for the extinction of any fire that might break out in the town of Lyttelton the inhabitants were absolutely dependent upon an engine and brigade that were miles away, and the conveyance of which to the spot might, as on the occasion in question, occupy three hours and a half. Now let us look back to the three most serious fires that have occurred in Nelson since our waterworks were completed; the one in Hardy-street in 1868, and the two that have broken out in Trafalgar and Bridge Streets during the present year. What would have been the result in either of these cases supposing three hours and a half, or even a quarter of that time, had been allowed to elapse before effectual remedies had been forthcoming ? Between Nelson and Lyttelton the difference in this respect is very great, and yet the premiums are the same ! And still the inhabitants of our "sleepy hollow" — the expresssion is hackneyed but in this instauce remarkably appropriate — are perfectly willing to allow the Insurance Offices to go on year after year dipping their hands into their pockets to extract therefrom the funds that are required to make good their losses in those parts of the colony where the people have not been so provident as those in our own town. We are not now going to enlarge upon our magnificent water supply, nor upon the praiseworthy energy of our fire brigade — the efficiency of both has been amply proved on more occasions than one — but we do feel bound to remonstrate when we find that the efforts we have made to put an effectual stop to the ravages of fire in the town receive no substantial acknowledgement from the Insurance Offices, and still more do we object to the easy, listless, manner in which Nelson people suffer themselves to be preyed upon by those who, without contributing in the slightest degree to the cost, are such large gainers by the expensive precautions we have adopted. But, it may be said, it is all very -well to complain of the exorbitant rates we are paying, but how is the evil to be remedied? The existing Insurance Offices seem to be pretty well agreed upon the amount of premium they think fit to extort from us, and no complaints we can make, however loud they may be, are likely to bring about any alteration in their charges, seeing, as they do, how completely they have us in their power. The answer to this is simple. Get out of their power as speedily as possible ; and this might be done by a large number of the householders placing themselves in communication with some Company that is disposed to listen to reason, sending them a plan of the town, and a full description of our water supply, and the general means at our disposal for extinguishing fires, and offering to enter into an engagement with them for a specified number of years to pay a certain premium to be fixed by mutual consent. We have no doubt that if something of this kind were done, there would be no difficulty in the way of reducing to within moderate limits what is now a heavy and mosl unreasonable tax upou the insured oi Nelson. Culliford Mine. — We are glad tc learn that the whole of the machinery for working this mine has been safely landed on the site selected for its erection. Bankruptcy. — This morning's Gazettt announces that declarations of insolvency have been filed by John Disher of Spring Grove, publican, and by Richard Bradcock of Nelson, laborer. The Outgoing San Fkancisco Mail, — It will be seen by a Post Office notice that the next home mail, via San Francisco, will close at Nelson, on Sunday the 4th December. The Regatta. — At a meeting of th( Regatta Club held last night the pro gramme, as it appears iv our advertising columns to-day, was passed. The prizei for the various races will be fixed as sooi as the Committee of the club are in i position to ascertain the amount of fund likely to be at their disposal. The pro

gramme is a very ample one, and it only remains xvith the public to subscribe liberally to provide a good day's sport on what is one of our most popular holidays. From the general interest taken in boat racing, the members of the club are sanguine of gettiug up a Regatta this year equal to any that have taken place in former years.